Starfield provides players with a blank slate to build their character and their story in the game, with backgrounds to provide a backstory to your protagonist.
When creating a character, players are able to choose a background that provides permanent boosts with starting skills, as well as potentially opening up further conversation choices and bonuses while in the game.
Combined with the traits in Starfield, backgrounds can extensively flesh out the history of your character as you embark on a new adventure and result in deeper immersion.
Here are all the backgrounds we know so far in Starfield, as well as the three starting skills they provide.
All known Starfield backgrounds
- Beast Hunter
- Bouncer
- Bounty Hunty
- Chef
- Combat Medic
- Cyber Runner
- Cyberneticist
- Diplomat
- Explorer
- Gangster
- Homesteader
- Industrialist
- Long Hauler
- Pilgrim
- Professor
- Ronin
Related: 5 things you may have missed from the Starfield Direct trailer
All known Starfield backgrounds and starter skills
Chef
“While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more… discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces.”
Gastronomy – Craft special food and drink, and research additional recipes.
Duelling – 10 percent more melee damage
Wellness – Gain an extra 30 health points
Combat Medic
“Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That’s where you come in. You’ve never been afraid to take on the enemy… but you’d much rather take care of your friends.”
Pistol Certification – 10 percent extra pistol damage
Medicine – 10 percent more healing from health packs
Weight Lifting – Extra 10kg carrying capacity
Cyber Runner
“From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige and profit. You’ve work both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits.”
Pistol Certification – 10 percent extra pistol damage
Security – Able to hack level 2 locks and bank two auto attempts
Persuasion – Increased chance of success on speech challenges
Related: All Starfield ship customization details so far
Cyberneticist
“Robots? More toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one.”
Medicine – 10 percent more healing from health packs
Robotics – 10 percent more damage dealt to robots and turrets
Lasers – 10 percent more laser weapons damage
Diplomat
“The wars are over. Peace now reigns the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded… lives were spared.”
Persuasion – Increased chance of success on speech challenges
Diplomacy – Force a target NPC below your level to stop fighting for a time.
Bargaining – Buy for 5 percent less and sell for 10 percent more at vendors
Explorer
“They said exploration is a lost art. You didn’t listen. As the major factions argued over the space they desperately tried to control, you were busy uncovering the wonders of the Settled Systems.”
Lasers – 10 percent more laser weapons damage
Astrodynamics – Get “more capability” out of a ship’s grav drive
Surveying – Able to “decipher data” when on a planet
